Sound-reproducing machine



l. ROSSI.

SOUND REPRODUGING MACHlNE.

APPLICATION FILED 020.22. 1919. 1,3 5,475. Patented July 26, 192L- 2SHEETQ QHEET 1-.

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w q IN WITNESSES. INVENTQR Joseph Rossl,

J. ROSSI.

SOUND REPRODUCING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.22| 1919.

1,385,475. Patented July 26, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR Joseph Rossl,

Cir

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH ROSSI, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SOUND-REPRODUCING MACHINE.

T 0 all to hom it may concern Be it known that I, Josnrrr Rossr,acitizen of the United States, residing at Phila- .delphia, in thecounty of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certainnew. and useful Improvements in Sound Reproducing Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

One object of my. invention is to provide a sound reproducing machinewhich will be particularly adapted for use in theaters or amusementhouses for use in connection with motion pictures and so thatexceptionally long records canbe used thereon so as to continue thereproduction throughout an entire picture or for a long portion thereof.

Another object is to so construct my invention that the sound reproducedthereby will be distinctly audible to a large audience.

' A still further object is to so construct my invention that it willinclude a plurality of reproducing needles or similar elements, any ofwhich can be replaced during the reproduction of the record withoutinterrupting the continuity of the reproduction.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be describedhereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective viewshowing my improved sound reproducing machine in operative positionrelatively to a motion picture screen,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of each of thepartsof my invention,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detached perspec tive view showing a portion ofthe record and its connecting elements,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 4E 1 of Fig.2,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective View showing two reproducing needlessimul taneously in engagement with the record,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the sound box removed,and

Fig. 7 is a perspective View illustrating one of the conveying collarswhich I preferably use.

Referring to the drawings, 8 and 8 are pedestals'which form a supportingstructure and bearing for two rotatably mounted shafts 9 and 10; saidshafts extending between the pedestals 8 and 8 and being continouslyscrew threaded as illustrated.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 26', 1921 Applicationfiled December 22, 1919 Serial No. 346,624.

The shafts 9 and 10 are adapted to be ro-' tated by belts l1 and-12 froma pulley 13 on a main operating shaft ll-g'said operating shaft 14 beingoperatively connected to an electric motor 15. The shaft 14 is rotatablymounted in the pedestal 8 and has a clamping band 16 secured thereonby aset screw 17.

' The clamping band 16 is adapted to be connected to the end 18 of alongcylindrical record 19 by means'of screws 20 or other suitable devices,such for example as shown in Figs. 1 and 8. Another clamping band 21 issecured to the opposite end of the record 19; said clamping band 21being mounted on a shaft 22 which serves as a continuation of the mainoperating shaft 14 and is mounted in the pedestal 8.

' A cabinet 23 is connected to two transverse bars 24 and 25; saidtransverse bars having conveying collars 26 on opposite ends; said:conveying collars being provided with screw threaded holes 27 for engagement with the threaded portions of the shafts 9 and 10. These conveyingcollars are made in sections which-are hinged together, as shownin Fig.'7, so that the sections can be opened up to permit the detachment ofthe cabinet 23 from the shafts 9 and 10. The

cabinet is positioned below the record 19 and at its back has a hollowstandard 28 to which is pivotally connected a tone arm 29. The tone arm29 has two forwardly diverging hollow branches 31 and 32. These branchesadjacent their forward ends are turned in wardly, as shown at 33, andare provided with flanges 34.

Two sound boxes 35 and 36 are positioned between the flanges 34; saidsound boxes having hollow extensions 39 which are rotatably mountedwithin the respective flanges of the branches 31 and 32. In this mannereither of the sound boxes 35 and 36 can be independently rotated for apurpose hereinafter described. Each of the sound boxes has a reproducingneedle 38 andeither of these needles can be moved.

into engagement with the record 19. The record 19 is preferably made byincluding two helical grooves; the turns of one groove being positionedbetween the turns of the other groove so that both of the grooves willproduce similar tones at the same time. In other words, the grooves arearranged similarly to the double threads of a screw and so that if bothof the needles are moved into engagement with adjacent portions of thetwo grooves, for example as shown in- Fig. 5, each of the needles willtransmit the same sound.

With this arrangement it is possible to change either of the needles 38without stopping the machine or without interrupting the continuity ofthe reproduction of the record, since it is merely necessary to swingeither'of the sound boxes 35,01 36 so that its needle is moved out ofengagement with: the record into a position to permit a new needle to beinserted and thisvcan be done without stopping the machine. Fig. 2 showsthe needle of the sound box 36 having been raised into a position so asto permit changing, such as above described. The forward portion of thecabinet 23 is provided with outlet openings 39 so that the sound passingthrough the tone arm and downwardly through the hollow standard'28 willpass outwardly from the cabinet through the openings 39. v a I I Withthe above mentioned construction, the pedestals 8 and, 8 can bepositioned a comparatively great distance apart so that an extremelylong cylindrical record 19 can be employed. This arrangement permits themachine to be placed close to a motion picture screen, such for exampleas shown at 40 in Fig. 1, and if desired the character of thereproductions can be varied to suit the picture which is projected uponthe screen.

While I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it willbe understood that the various parts of my invention may be changedwithoutdeparting from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limitmyself to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I am atliberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within thescope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is A. machine of the character describedincluding an elongated rotatable record; two shafts spaced apart andextending in the direction of the length of the record, at least one ofsaid shafts being rotatable and having screw threads; a cabinet having asound outlet; reproducing means carried by the cabinet and adapted toengage said-record whereby the reproducedjsound will pass out of saidoutlet; and'transversely extending suspension means for said cabinethaving parts engaging said shafts whereby the cabinet is supportedjointly bysaidshafts, said parts having screw threaded portions forengaging said shaft screw threads, said parts being located adjacentopposite sides of the cabinet whereby the cabinet is supported atdistances apart 'in the direction of the lengths of said shafts;substantially as described. I v I In testimony, whereof I have signedmy;

name .to this specification in the presence of two subscribingwitnesses.

Y 1 JOSEPH ROSSI.

Vitnesses:

AUGUsrUs B. Corrns, CHAS. E. Po'r'rs.

